CAT Celebrates 10
Cat Adoption Team in Sherwood, Ore.
turns 10 with much to celebrate — a
1300% adoptions growth rate from
’98 to ’07, a foster program modeled
nationwide, and more. Looking ahead,
the largest all-feline shelter in the
Northwest sets out on an ambitious 5year plan.

9 Lovin’ the leash
Meet two Oregon sisters
who, feeling it’s no longer
safe for cats to be outside,
found a way to give them
the outdoor adventure they
crave — on a leash. Their
cats love it so much the pair
produced a training video
to inspire others to harness
their own kitties and hit the
road.

6 Reader Spotlight

Every
Issue

Meet Loki , Darcy, Bowie, and
Shadow

7 Learning on the Spot
Discover a new trick, learn its
beneﬁts to you and your pet, get
the quick and easy on teaching
it, and Go!
This month: Is your dog a
calm co-pilot?

8 Friend of fragile,
older kitties
After years as a vet tech,
Randy Golub of Springﬁeld,
Ore. started CatNurse
on Call, providing medical care, spoiling and
cuddling to older and ill felines (and canines) in
their homes. Caring for a kitty with cancer in her
home brought her dreams to a ﬁne point; she built
a heavenly place for kitties to stay on her property.
“It was something I’d been subconsciously
planning my whole life,” she says.

15 Accidental Haven
Jennifer Chapple was a successful executive who
was highly allergic to cats. The last thing she’d
planned was to develop a feline sanctuary on
her Vancouver, Wash. property. But after ﬁnding
a tiny kitten, and then an entire colony of ferals,
that’s exactly what she did. Today, Chapple Hill is
thriving.

18

9 FCCO’s Furball
a huge hit
It was the place to be one
Saturday night in April — the
stars were out, the music was
rockin’ and spirits were high.
Everyone agreed: Great Party!

5 Who’ll Save the Pets?
Lane County Shelter Closure
Shakes Things Up
Barely over a year old, Save the Pets animal
rescue organization in Eugene may be the best
possible candidate to ﬁll the void when Lane
County Animal Services shuts down this month.

hat a blast this issue’s been! In fact everything’s
been fun around here lately — crazy hectic, but
fun.

Spot is GROWING!

Even when you know something is imminent, it’s such a
delight when it starts to happen.
Here’s what’s been going on:
Spot’s been participating in events nearly every weekend
lately, from Walk for the Animals at Esther Short Park in Vancouver to Doggie Dash, the Multnomah County Fair, and more.
Our firecrackers in Eugene, Marnie and Robyn, have been
mixing it up with a ton of fun down there. This month they’re
launching a Cover Model Search in that area, something we
just wrapped here in Portland (watch for the winners next
issue). In addition to the beauty on the cover (he was selected
randomly — they’re ALL beauties to us), every participant who
entered the cover model search will appear in a special spread
next month — be sure to grab your copy!
Also upping the excitement around here: as I write, the
bean counters are tallying the winners of Spot’s 1st annual Top
Dog Awards. You’ll have a chance to get better acquainted
with those you’ve voted as YOUR Top Dogs: favorite doggy

bakery, groomer, dog-wash, daycare, and many more. Personally, I can’t wait to see the winner of the “product-you-can’t-livewithout.” We don’t have to wait long — your Top Dogs will be
featured in July, with a little detail about each, so everyone can
get acquainted with them. Start watching for WINNER stickers
in the window of your favorite merchants — your chosen Top
Dogs will be sporting them.
Yep, there’s a whole lotta shakin’ going on. In addition to
these things, we’re auditing our distribution (Spot is currently
available at 800 locations) to ensure it’s everywhere you are,
making it easy to get your copy.
As always, we love and appreciate your ideas and suggestions. Keep ‘em coming! You’re the boss, and we’re here to
give you the information, resources and best stories of the day
about our pet/people community — which is rich with inspiring
examples, hilarious hijinks, important breaking news, and fun
to be had.
Stay with us — this is your Spot!

To the editor:
There’s no one reason to point a finger
at; if there were we’d find a way to fix it, but
Recycled Gardens has failed to thrive during
the reorganization period announced last
year and the charity nursery is slated to close
forever May 31st. All proceeds from the closeout will, as always, fund spay/neuter surgeries
throughout Oregon, as RG’s parent organization, POPPA (Pet Over-Population Prevention
Advocates), Inc., will stay in business but now
concentrating all our volunteer time and effort
on securing grants and corporate funding.
Recycled Gardens has already rolled back
prices to the original $2.50 per gallon. And, all
mature shrubs are half off. Hours have been
reduced to Fridays and Saturdays ONLY for
the rest of May, 10am-5pm each day. All pur-

Contributing Writers

chases made must either be hauled away
the same day or picked up within the week.
The sale will also include all display plants,
which will have to be dug up and hauled
away by the purchaser. While supplies
last, all clay pots will be given free with
any purchase (cash or checks only).
A facilities sale Saturday, May 31, 10am5pm, will feature tools, garden carts, wheelbarrows, folding tables, patio furniture, and
anything else not classified as flora. Sorry
all, the barn itself is NOT for sale.

Recycled Gardens is located at 6995 NW
Cornelius Pass Rd in Hillsboro, Ore. RG is not
accepting plant donations, but is recommending
they be given to schools or other nonprofits lacking landscaping budgets. Plastic pot recycling has
also been curtailed; please take containers to the
nearest Far West Fiber location. For more info,
visit poppainc.org or call 503.626.4070 ext 3.
Keni Cyr-Rumble
President, POPPA, Inc.

Companion and working animals are important, beloved members of the family. Spot Magazine is the one-stop resource for information,
ideas, and events of interest to these animals and their people.
Our Policies

Spot Magazine welcomes opinions and letters to the editor. To be considered for publication, letters should be signed and include the writer’s
full name, address, and daytime telephone (for internal use only). Spot reserves the right to edit letters for length and clarity. Mail to: Spot
Magazine PO Box 16667 Portland OR 97292; Fax to: 503-261-8945; email to: publisher@spotmagazine.net. Opinions and ideas expressed
by writers and/or advertisers herein are not necessarily endorsed by, or necessarily reflect, the opinions of Spot Magazine or Living Out
Loud, Inc.

Subscription Rates:
POPPA , Inc., Pet Over-Population Prevention Advocates, is
a 501(c)3 nonprofit working to reduce the number of homeless companion animals in Oregon by offering statewide
spay/neuter referral and assistance.

ne Sunday morning last June, Save
the Pets (STP) held its first off-site
adoption event for Lane County
Animal Services (LCAS). Pickup loads of dogs
and cats were transported to a Key Bank parking lot. Dogs, each with a handler, lounged in
the shade; cats frolicked in large kennels.

One private rescue, John
Archer of Waggin’ Inn Rescue,
sees hope in the situation. He
says many local animal organizations have put aside their differences and banded together.
Archer says if the cities and the
county listen to input from these

The closure of
LCAS is still being
debated among
officials, but
even if it remains
open, funding &

services will be

substantially
reduced.
People wandered among the purring and
wagging, seeking just the right addition to
their families. Three pets went home the first
day. The weekend events quickly grew, and
that winter STP moved the events indoors at
PetsMart. At the end of the first year, 250 dogs
and cats had found forever homes — 250 over
those adopted through LCAS that year.
On April 26, 2008, the front page of the
Register Guard, Eugene’s daily newspaper,
read, “Shelter prepares for closure. Lane
County’s administrator plans to end animal
services come June.” The accompanying
photos showed dogs behind bars.
The closure of LCAS is still being debated
among officials, but even if it remains open,
funding and services will be substantially
reduced. Every area animal welfare organization and private rescue is bracing for the
possible closure. The impact will be felt across
Lane County, from the humane societies and
breed rescues, down to the individual who
quietly takes in strays.

Eugene/Springfield area by conducting a market analysis. She concluded
what the community needed was a
centrally-located adoption center. The
individual groups, the collective knowledge
center would be a permanent site, a
could be used to make a workable program.
friendly, inviting place where private
rescue groups or agencies could take
He says, “Definitely if it’s better organized
pets to give them a greater chance of
they could run it better for less money.”
adoption.
Archer has worked with STP and has only
good things to say of founder Lori Smith and
STP began raising funds for the center
the organization. It’s possible STP may be in
and seeking ways to promote adoptions.
position to lead the way to an improved, safer,
They looked for the greatest need in the
community. Smith says,
noticed LCAS was
John Archer sees hope in “We
flailing and they didn’t
the situation, saying many have a good reputation.”
2007, STP approached
local animal organizations have In
LCAS with an idea, which
the agency decided to try.
“We were the first group
they allowed to do an offsite adoption,” says Smith.
When the news broke April
and more reliable solution to Lane County’s
26, STP stepped up its efforts to fund a
shelter problems.
permanent site. Smith acknowledges it
Smith first developed the idea of STP upon
may not be the state-of-the-art facility
her return from a seminar at Best Friends
they envisioned, but they need to move
Animal Sanctuary. She took a business-like
forward quickly. STP’s fundraising efforts
approach to the animal welfare issues in the
have accelerated, with summer events
such as a Paws for a Cause Dog Walk

put aside their differences
& banded together.

Dogs Rule
Charm SchoolLLC

founder, Save The Pets
at LCAS Adoption Event
5-18-08

Washing cars to
raise $ for the babies

and a Comedy Night and Auction. Smith says
they are also recruiting for more foster homes
to augment their current list. She adds, “We get
donations from the community toward food, kitty
litter, that kind of thing, for our foster families.”
While the future of LCAS remains uncertain
and warm weather approaches, STP is preparing for another summer of open-air events in the
parking lot of Key Bank at 1380 Coburg Rd. in
Eugene.
Deanna Mather Larson is a writer who lives on a ranch
outside of Springfield with 10 dogs, nine horses, seven cats,
three goats, three pigs, two llamas and one understanding
husband.

You can he
lp!
Help fund the permanent adoption
center or with current needs
Send $ to:
Save the Pets
P.O. Box 5905
Eugene, OR 97405
STP is a nonprofit 501(c) (3); all donations are tax-deductible.

www.savethepets.net
• Volunteering
• Upcoming Edoption events
• Fostering opportunities
• STP Wish List
• Fun fundraisers such as the Dog Pound,
where local celebrities will have to
raise their adoption fee to get out of the
pound.

Meet loki
Loki is a 16-week-old Keeshond pup who is
ever diligent in guarding his bone.
David R. Jothen
Gresham, Ore.

Shadow, a recent rescue, likes playing fetch
with his boy. Andy throws Shadow’s favorite
toy, and he brings it back! He’ll throw the toy
out the sliding door to the back yard. Shadow
has fetched more than 25 times in a row.
Since June is Cat month, wanted to share
it. Shadow has brought such joy and happiness to our lives. He was a recent rescue,
and we put word out for a loving home — I’m
so glad nobody called to want him now! Our
first cat, Primus, is even being friendly
with him, licking and playing with him. : )
This is one of the “Happy” spots in my life
now!
Tammy McKinley
Portland, Ore.

Meet
darcy
& bowie
When I got Bowie (the larger, redder of the two), Darcy
couldn’t stand him, and would snap at him if he got
too close. Now, six years later, they sleep together
and she seeks him out, but still lets him know if she
feels he’s bothering her.
Janice Jenkins
Portland, Ore.

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laces like the beach, doggie
daycare, dog parks, or a
doggie deli seem to add
the most challenges for humans as
their dogs start to anticipate arriving
at their favorite digs, blocks before
even reaching the destination. It’s
as if your dog can pick out the landmarks and read street signs, and
it’s maddening — and dangerous
— to travel with a dog bouncing all
over the car, barking, whining, not
to mention embarrassing the heck
out of you.
Barking, bouncing off the windows, or shoving you out of the
way to get out of the car is not
what most pet parents had in mind
when they envisioned fun car rides
with their pooch.

• Teach your dog what you want him to
do in the car, like lie down and relax on
a mat. Start by practicing without actually
going anywhere. Go to the car with treats
and a towel or mat for your dog to lie on,
then reinforce anything your dog does that’s
calm: sitting, standing, etc. Do this on the
leash and work toward him lying down; it’s
helpful if you practice in the house before
progressing to the car. Be sure to place the
mat in the area where you would ultimately
like him to ride. Once you have him successfully resting on the mat while the car
isn’t moving, do it with the car running, then
progress to driving a couple of feet or so (just
so you simulate going for a ride), stop and
train again. E-mail jen@dogandcat.org for a
complete relaxation protocol and handout.

door to rush through, close the door, don’t latch it, and be careful not to hit your dog with the
door! Repeat this until your dog is sitting and waiting for you to release him “out” and the door
is open far enough that he could jump out but is choosing not to.
Jennifer Biglan is a certified pet dog trainer and owner of Dog & Cat, LLC Training & Behavior Modification services in
Eugene, OR. She is the proud owner of two dogs and three cats and provides private training, behavior consultations
and group classes. If you have questions, contact Jennifer at 541.686.6768, or jen@dogandcat.org. Or visit her Web
site at www.dogandcat.org.

• Use management techniques to pre-

vent the behavior in the first place.
Dog seat belts or crates in the car are good
ways to confine your dog and prevent him
from bouncing all over when he is excited. If
your dog barks at people and dogs outside
the car, restrict his view by covering him
in a crate.
• Do not allow your dog to jump out of
the car in an aroused state. Start by
working in a low distraction environment
(the driveway or garage), until you can see
that your dog can calmly jump out of the
car there. Gradually increase the level of
difficulty. For safety, be sure to work with
your dog on leash, so he can’t bolt out the
door. When your dog is in the car, open the
door just enough so he can hear you and
say “Wait,” then begin opening the door very
slowly. Anytime your dog moves toward the

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SPOT MAGAZINE • JUNE 2008

7

Outreach

Kristan Dael • Spot Magazine

O

ne day about two years ago, Teddy,
a senior feline belonging to Lori and
Simon Smith of Eugene, nearly lost
her tail while moseying slowly (as older kitties
do) along the driveway, when Simon drove
in. While her tail was treated and mended
as expected, the incident left her incontinent.
Simon and Lori’s routine came to include
expressing Teddy’s bladder twice a day for
six months, and they sought help.
Lori’s vet, Priscilla Gibson of Bush Animal
Hospital in Eugene, recommended Randi
Golub, a certified vet tech with 20 years’
experience in traditional veterinary practice
(30 years total working with animals), who
had started her business, CatNurse on Call,
just six months before.
When asked how it all began, Randi says
she started working on it while “still working.”
Without a business plan or some of the other
things start-up consultants insist are vital,
Randi says she “took a leap of faith,” and is
thankful today she did.
“I wanted to offer a unique service,” says
Randi, “something that would help people
and pets. A lot of animals — especially cats
— don’t like going to the vet or groomer. And
for those who are paralyzed or immobile (I also
do hospice care), it’s even tougher.”
Caring for cats and dogs in their homes
allows Randi to offer the kind of “spoiling,
cuddling and encouragement to eat” that’s

very important to her, and that
sometimes isn’t possible in the
fast-paced environment of a
clinic.
Early on, a client going out of
town asked Randi to do a daily
home visit for her cat who had
cancer. Randi wanted to provide
a higher level of care, and ended
up boarding the kitty in her and
her husband John’s Eugene-area
home.
“She needed a lot, and I was so
glad I took her home,” says Randi.
“It was a wonderful experience for
the cat and for me.”
It was also that magical point some reach
when things just click. Randi says she didn’t
want to continue boarding in her home, but she
did want to accept boarders.
“I realized this was something I’d been subconsciously planning my whole life,” she says.
“I pictured what I wanted it to feel like, look like,
smell like.”
Randi and John built a cottage on their property that now typically houses four boarders at
a time — although “guest” would seem a more
apt description. Each visiting feline has it’s own
condo (no cages here) with a garden view, bird
houses, babbling water, a door to a secure
outdoor area, even soothing music.

It’s a beautiful thing.

“It’s Teddy’s home away
from home,” says Lori. “We
go camping a lot, and Teddy
stays there — she still has
medical needs that rule out
leaving her home. When we
get there, Teddy jumps out
of my arms and into her little
space; it’s like Teddy’s spa!
We have other younger,
active cats at home, so she
really gets a break.”
Randi’s original vision
was of a peaceful, restful
place for cats, she says, and clearly, she
and her husband succeeded in bringing it
to life.
“I saw this light, bright, cat-friendly space,”
says Randi. “We spent many hours at Home

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Left to accumulate, dog waste ruins the
appearance of your property, attracts
disease-carrying pests, and offends the
neighbors. Somebody has to pick it up.

Depot — which was
torture for me — but
it was an absolute
labor of love, and
the finished cottage
and surrounding
gardens
were
absolutely perfect!”
About her husband
she says, “I couldn’t
do it without him.”
Randi’s venture
has continued to
evolve. In addition
to home nursing,
grooming and boarding, she
teaches first aid classes with
Save the Pets (“They’re a lot
of fun,” she says, “people
get a first-aid guide and a
DVD”). When asked what
she envisions for the future
she replied, “Exactly what I’m
doing now,” adding that she
can see writing a book or two
sitting in the sanctuary with
her kitties.
“I feel like I have the
best job in the world,” says Randi. “It’s hard
caring for animals who are sick or dying, but
so gratifying. And so many times a client will
come back months later — they’ll call thanking me for some little thing I said,” she shares
with an unmistakable tone of wonder. “I look
at an older animal and ask: ‘how could I love
anything more — I love this face!’”

a gala and fundraiser
for the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon (FCCO) was held April 19 at Staver’s Locomotive in NW Portland, amidst what seemed like miles of tiny train tracks.
The FCCO is a trap/neuter/return program for feral and stray cats in Oregon. The
group has spayed/neutered 32,498 cats since its inception — 1,694 this year alone.
The program has prevented the births of a whopping 360,000 kittens, who would
most likely have lived brief, harsh lives.
Paige Powell and Pink Martini’s Thomas Lauderdale were honorary chairs; Lauderdale performed his piano pyrotechnics (how DOES he do that?), and then joined
Carl Halvorson and Stephen Beaudoin in a funny rousing song who’s lyrics were
strictly meows.

Les Sarnoff, KINK Radio
Morning Show host, kept
things hopping until Lauderdale introduced his “favorite band,”
March Fourth, which brought down
the house.
Local animal advocate and founder
of FCCO, Phylis Johanson, was
also on the scene. Johanson
unified five vets and citizens
committed to addressing
the plight of feral
cats some 12
years ago. She
wrote friends asking
for startup money,
and, with the $900 she
received, she went after it.
This year’s Furball, the 10th
annual, netted over 100 times that
amount, and was a rousing success.
Feral Cat Coalition
feralcats.com
503.797.2606

O

regon sisters Dari
Smith and Dee
Remington never
say the word “walk” out loud
around their cats. They spell
it out instead. That’s because
if they do utter the “W” word,
their cats run to the patio
doors and wreak havoc.
That’s because for the
past decade the pair has
walked their cats on leashes,
through neighborhoods, along
creeks, and
at the beach.
Their cats love
it so much the
sisters made a
training video to inspire others to harness up
their kitties and hit the road. Cat’zWalk, Giving
Your Feline the Gift of Outdoor Adventure is
a fun and informative video that inspires and

informs.
In the early ‘90s Gabron
the cat lived with Smith in an
apartment. Wanting to keep
her feline friend safe from
traffic, predators and other
dangers, she kept him inside.
But Gabron was a rambunctious sort who yearned for
the great outdoors. So Smith
got a sturdy harness and was
thrilled to discover Gabron
loved walking on a leash. The
two had numerous adventures, and an
idea was born.
Smith
and
Remington
believe that while
it is no longer safe for cats to be outside, they
still “need the freedom to explore, satisfy
their curiosity, and smell the wonderful fresh
outdoors. Cats should be honored for what
they want to do,” they say. Smith would like

to see shelters include the video in every cat
adoption kit.
Smith has two cats and Remington has
five. On the video they explain that not all
cats will take to a leash. “They all have their
own personalities, just like people,” Smith
explains. “Some will just lie down, others take
to it immediately.” They always use a standard

full-body halter, available in a variety of styles.
It’s vital the halter fit the weight and size of
the cat.
While CeCe adored walks from the beginning, Roger didn’t. Smith believes from
experience that with patience and perseverance, most cats can learn to love walking on
a leash.

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SPOT MAGAZINE • JUNE 2008

9

Kristan Dael • Spot Magazine

Stephanie Fox
Outreach Volunteer

I'm
Drew

I'm
Penelope
#478788

I'm
Star

I'm
Cameron

MEOW is the time to adopt

at Multnomah Co. Animal Services

10

JUNE 2008 • SPOT MAGAZINE

Feature

n the mid â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;90s, Evan Kalik retired
and left Florida to be near his sons in
Portland. Later helping them expand
their business, he requested one thing:
space in their new building to use for cat
rescue and shelter.

I

That shelter, Cat Adoption Team, opened
in 1998, was run solely by volunteers
and word of mouth, and in its first eight
months placed 219 felines in loving
homes.
CATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story is a powerful
testimony to what can be
accomplished when helping hearts and hands
embrace a vision. CATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
adoptions have grown
over THIRTEEN HUNDRED
PERCENT (1328.76 to be
exact) from 1998 through
2007. As of May 11, adoptions
in â&#x20AC;&#x2122;08 had increased yet another
13%.
CAT marked its 10th anniversary in May,
and the festivities continue â&#x20AC;&#x201D; there is much
to celebrate and many happenings in the
months ahead.

CATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
Lavender Room

While
the
importance of
upgrading the
facility may
not be clear to
some, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy
to understand
when considering facts like:
- CATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s building
was not designed
as a shelter. Housing all resident
cats on one floor (theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re now on two)
would enable visitors to observe them
all at once.

petsinthepearl.com
30/.3/2%$ĂĽ"9

July 19, 2008
from 10:00AM to 3:00PM
at the EcoTrust Conference Center
in the heart of Portlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pearl District

- An additional operating suite would
increase the number of spay/neuter
procedures, a critical element of
CAT’s mission.
- Greater isolation capacity would
mean kitties could recover from surgeries in separate, complete kennels
vs. the cat carriers they sometimes
use now; plus, cats affected by upper
respiratory infection (which
generally run rampant in
shelter settings) can be
removed immediately,
preventing
many
others from being
infected.
- Expansion would
include a “gathering”
space for use by the
community and for
education outreach.
- Seemingly secondary, but in the
larger scheme of
things maybe not:
making the some-

12

JUNE 2008 • SPOT MAGAZINE

what remote Sherwood location more attractive and familiar to the general public “ups its
attraction factor” — hopefully increasing the
number and frequency of visitors.
Which brings up an interesting point: while
CAT may be considered “out of the way” for
its Sherwood address, the organization has
become a hub for felines and cat-related support systems all over the Northwest (“from
Clark to Marion County, Clackamas, even
Yamhill,” says Covey). 75 percent of CAT’s
residents come from other shelters — including SW Washington, Oregon, Washington
County and Willamette Humane Societies,
among others. The shelter is closed only

two days during the year, Thanksgiving and
Christmas.
Over 2571 cats were spayed or neutered at
CAT in 2007, — including kitties from many
shelters, from CAT and private owners. Among
the goals for the future is to chalk up 7000
spay/neuters per year.
One definite “secret” to CAT’s success is
a foster program that’s modeled around the nation. Covey
“The more fosters, the more kittens, says, “The more fosters, the
pregnant moms, kitties recovering more kittens, pregnant moms,
from surgery and others not ready for kitties recovering from surgery
adoption, are moved out of shelters and others not ready for adopare moved out of shelters
where they would be taking up space, tion,
where they would be taking up
the more kennel space and resources space, the more kennel space
open up for somebody else.”
and resources open up for
somebody else.”
— Kathy Covey

CAT PR Manager

“Fostering the kitties has been
the most rewarding thing. The
thing I’m most proud of that
I’ve done in my life.”
— Barbara Pirk
CAT Volunteer
A snapshot of that ‘somebody else’ is dramatic, especially during ‘kitty season’ — the
warm months when so many unwanted kittens
are born. “Earlier this week we had an urgent
need,” says Covey. “There were 15 litters waiting at county shelters.”
Currently CAT has 175 foster volunteers,
and they’re always in need of more. Barbara
Pirk, who has volunteered at CAT since she
and her husband, Heiner (short for Heinrich),
lost one of their own in 2005. The Pirks never
found their lost beloved companion, but they
did discover CAT.

Beginning as a volunteer, Barbara was
enlisted into the foster care program thanks
to her “neat handwriting,” she says with a
tickled laugh. Now, some three years later
she fosters, and continues to do the work she
did from the start — tracking all the babies in
foster care, noting when they’ve been vaccinated, when they’re ready for spay/neuter and
adoption, etc. Look closely and you find the job
is bigger than it may sound: in the summer of
2006, CAT had kitties in 300 homes at one
time. Typically there are on average 250-275
kitties in foster care at any given time during
summer months.

Spot’s getting groomed!
Check out our NEW LOOK

July ‘08

!

Barbara’s first foster (she currently has
two, plus three of their own) was “a skinny,
flea-bitten, no-fur, scared-to-death baby that
wouldn’t come out from under a blanket,” says
Barbara, who she took home to socialize.
“When you see how they blossom and bloom
with just a little care and love you just can’t stop
[being a foster],” says Barbara. When asked
if she struggles when it’s time to let them go
[to forever homes], Barbara says she deals
with it by meeting the adopters and knowing
where they’re going. “I get a feeling,” she says.
She is also comforted, she says, by knowing
“for every kitten I foster
I’ve saved two lives:
the one I fostered,
and the room they
made for the next
one.”
Barbara also
accompanies her
fosters to CAT’s
off-site adoption
outreach events,
held weekends
at nine locations
(see sidebar) when
they’re ready to go
home.
And what de-termines when they’re
ready for homes? Kittens are deemed adoptable when they’re in good health, weigh at
least 2.25 lbs. and have been altered. Some
people, she says, bring kittens in to be altered,
and those felines then go into CAT’s “playhouse” to be seen by potential adopters during
the week. Also, she says, as soon as six weeks
of age, kittens can be posted on petfinder.com,
a national site dedicated to homeless animals,
adoption, crisis response and more. “Many kitties are pre-adopted through petfinder before
they even reach weight,” says Barbara. “Which
is neat; they’re in foster care as babies, and
their adopters are there to pick them up when
they’re ready to go home, so they spend no
time in a shelter.”

While Barbara fosters orphans — kitties six weeks or older (they’re health
is pretty stable then,” she says, “if they
had defects or were going to contract illness they would have by then”), “there’s
so many different kinds of groups,”
she says. Some want pregnant cats
or mama cats with newborns. Barbara
says she’s scared to death of serious
illness and infants. “That’s the nice thing
about fostering,” she says, “you can
stay away from those that scare you
or who would be too much work.”

Promoting good alignment and flexibilty at all ages
SPOT MAGAZINE • JUNE 2008

13

Feature

Still waiting. . .
Jessie the cat needs a home! This beautiful kitty has been waiting over 2 months for
a forever place to call home. She has all her
shots, is spayed, and tested neg. for feline leukemia. To meet Jessie, call Patty 503.771.6353.

Barbara does caution, once they
start, fosters must know their limits.
She says she’s seen fosters “take
in and take in, give and give, and
one day boom; they totally burn out
and don’t want to do it anymore.”
Barbara knows her limits, she says,
and sees herself fostering for a long
time to come. Actually, she’s come
a long way in the time she’s been
fostering.
“When I started, my husband said
‘What have you gotten into.’ Now, once
they’re familiar with us and the house
they jump on his lap and climb on h
shoulder — and he’s just a big mush.”
Sherwood residents, Barbara and He
grew close to the folks at CAT after moving
into the area and away from longtime friends.
Barbara is retired, and says Heiner “will have to
work ‘til he dies.” Interestingly enough, having
retired as a successful executive in the corporate world, Barbara says it’s fostering the
kitties that’s been “the most rewarding thing.
The thing I’m most proud of that I’ve done in
my life, which may seem silly given where I
came from.”

Timid kitty not faring well at shelter
Marco is a sweet boy who was abandoned in
front of the shelter and was very traumatized by the
ordeal, which is why he did not do well at Multnomah
County’s PetsMart outlet. To meet this sweet boy,
call Patty at 503.771.6353.

Sweet love
Chloe is an incredibly sweet, beautiful tortoise Siamese, who
will be a blessing to a relaxed home with plenty of available laps
for snuggling and hearts to make happy. She is thought to be
about 11, has had her annual checkup, and is in good health.
She does have a delicate tummy, better lately, thanks to Evo dry
food. Chloe would love to meet you. To set a date, email Levin
at lovevolvenus@gmail.com.
Not really, when
looking at the big picture. As
Covey says of CAT’s five-year goals, getting
kittens grown and into lifelong homes, coupled
with stopping births of unwanted kittens,
improves and enhances the lives of not only
cat lovers, owners and cats themselves, but
also of those who don’t really like cats. Reducing overpopulation of unwanted cats means
fewer strays, an end to feline euthanization,
and diminishing “all the nuisances those who
don’t love cats point to,” says Covey.

More Rescue Me! at
SpotMagazine.net

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How We Can Help
• 24 hour emergency service, our phones are always answered
• A Place for Viewing and Saying Goodbye
• We Provide "A Place to Go" for families mourning their loss
• Four State of the Art crematories
• Guaranteed Private Cremation
• Unique Cremation Urns
• Granite Monuments and Engraved River Rock
• A vast selection of Pet Loss books and literature

CRITTER NANNY
Ltd.
A Four Paws
Country Retreat
For the
Discerning Dog
or Cat

WE BELIEVE THAT ALMOST EVERY
DOG CAN BE SAVED
YOUR DOG’S REHABILITATION
CAN START TODAY!
Jaye Hereford
Dog Behavior Specialist
503-793-8953
roverrehab@yahoo.com
www.rover-rehab.com

Connie Theil • Spot Magazine

C

happle Hill Cat Sanctuary sits
on 2¼ acres nestled in the
heart of Vancouver, Wash. The
site is inhabited by 130 furry creatures,
all rescues, who by some lucky twist of
fate, found their way here.
Jennifer Chapple didn’t just wake up
one day and decide it was her mission
to rescue cats. As a matter of fact, she’s
highly allergic to them. 12 years ago she
was a successful market research executive at a large company when she and
her husband bought the house and land.
There wasn’t a single cat to be found.

Then one day Chapple heard a pitiful crying behind the house. Following the cry, she
soon found a tiny black kitten, no more than four weeks old. Then she found its brothers
and sisters, and then, an entire colony of feral cats living on their land. Chapple called the
Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon (FCCO) — in its infancy at that time — for advice.
Chapple’s first step was to volunteer at FCCO and learn techniques in handling and caring
for ferals. Eventually she trapped all 24 on her property, had them spayed and neutered,
and converted a construction trailer out back into a cat house. Cat rescue groups soon
learned of her and began placing homeless felines in her care. Chapple raised money
with garage sales, car washes and Bunko parties. Volunteers showed up to help, and
Chapple filed for nonprofit status. She says everything happened very quickly after she’d
discovered her first ferals.

The shelter is at full capacity and in
need of additional support, both human
and financial. The sanctuary goes
through 1600 lbs of litter every six weeks,
and several hundred pounds of food each
month.
“This is a very unique place,” says
Chapple. “The
idea is that
these cats are
living together
happy and
healthy. This
is their home
until they find a
forever home,
and if they
don’t, they are
treated as our
family member
until the end of
their life. Our
number-one
goal is respect for the animals.”
Chapple is currently busy building
another huge outdoor enclosure, as well
as creating an informational hub for cat
rescuers and owners. The resource will
include information on spay/neuter and
low-cost medical care, and opportunities
to network with other rescuers.
History is a reliable predictor of future
happenings; accordingly, it’s likely this
determined champion of abandoned cats
will see all her goals realized. And you
can help!

Sanctuary

Living the high life in

Spot visited Chapple Hill recently, and the
first impression on arrival is that the place is
clean. Volunteers work hard to keep things
spotless, and it shows. The first stop was a
fenced-in porch. Cat beds were everywhere,
all filled with purring balls of fur.
We first met Bella, who’d been found
living outside a
restaurant. When
Chapple went to
rescue the very
thin little girl with
a broken tail,
Bella refused to
leave her buddy,
Boris. That was
10 years ago.
Bella is one of
many who will
live out her life at
the sanctuary.
Another
sweet resident is
Bridgette, who, along with her sister Fiona
and six kittens, were repeatedly crossing
NW Everett Street in Portland. Volunteers
spent days trapping the Girls. All the kittens
were adopted, and Bridgette and Fiona
remain at the sanctuary. Some cats come
because their owners have died.
Chapple says they have amazing success
socializing ferals, which is a good thing, as
many arrive at their door.
Inside were more kitties — some who
came right up and demanded affection,
others who hung back. All seemed happy
and healthy. There are no cages here; the
animals live in spacious enclosed outdoor
areas and in the house. They are cared for
by 15 regular volunteers.

COMPASSIONATE COUNSELING FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE ANIMALS
COMPASSIONATE COUNSELING FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE ANIMALS

IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH
Counseling for pet owners

Coping with veterinary emergencies
Caring for a chronically ill pet
Integrating a pet into your family
pet illness to children
CopingExplaining
with veterinary
emergencies
Attachment and bonding issues
CaringAddresssing
for a chronically
ill pet
long term unresolved loss
Integrating
a pet surrender
into youroffamily
Considering
a pet
Seniors
and
pets to children
Explaining
pet
illness
Makingand
family
pet care issues
decisions
Attachment
bonding

Keep ‘em clean ‘n cute
Is your pet having a bad hair day? Aussie Pet Mobile is coming
to a neighborhood near you to give your cat or dog the pampering
they deserve. From
hydro spa baths with
low-heat hand drying
to haircuts by trained
groomers, they do
it all. Best of all,
they’re just minutes
from your front door.
Aussie’s no less than
a full ‘spa’ on wheels,
and fine wheels at
that — they travel in
a Mercedes Sprinter
Van. To learn more or
to order up a visit call 800.PETMOBILE (738-6624) or visit
aussiepetmobile.com.

Got a pretty kitty?
Cat Adoption Team’s 1st
annual ‘Cute Cat’ Photo Contest is running all month long,
seeking beautiful, cute, funny,
delightful photos of favorite
felines. The Grand Prize Winning photo will grace the cover
of the 2009 CAT Calendar (1000
to be printed and sold this fall).
The contest runs all through
June, which is ‘Adopt a Cat Month,’
and every cat is welcome to enter — whether from Portland or Prin-

eville, no matter where he/she was adopted. For details on entering, visit catadoptionteam.org
— where you’ll even find tips on taking a great photo.
Judging will be conducted after July 4 by a panel
including local celebs, pro photographers, and CAT
supporters and staff. The winners will be notified
shortly thereafter.

Road trip season
has arrived . . .
And Triple-A is on the scene to help you get ready.
AAA will present Traveling with your pet, featuring tips
on safety, where to stay, what to pack, domestic and
international requirements, and more, at several events
this month. Each event features guest speakers including local vets and hotel partners, plus AAA Travel reps.
The events are for 2-legged friends
only. Here’s the lineup:
- June 7 at the Gateway AAA Service Center in Springfield.. RSVP
541.741.8200.
- June 20 at the Corvallis AAA Service
Center. RSVP 541.757.2535.
- June 24 at the Clackamas AAA Service Center. RSVP 503.241.6800.

Weekends are jumpin’ at Howl At The Moon
Howl at the Moon boutique & gathering place is celebrating its 3rd anniversary
with festive weekend events through June 22. Each features cake for people,
treats for dogs, and special activities. The fun gets underway June 14 with Pet
Psychic, Faye Pietrokowsky noon-6 and a microchip clinic 10-2. The featured
event June 15 is caricatures by artist Sam Arneson. June 21 will be works for
display & sale by artist/potter April Biracree. June 25, Pics of the Litter will be doing pet portraits.
More details howl-at-the-moon.com.

When the day comes we will be there for you

Family Animal Services
• Full service cremations
• Home pickup service available
• 48 or 72 hour return of pets cremains
• Same day services available
• After hours and emergency services available
• Grieving room available to say final good-byes
• Optional viewing of pet’s placement
• Home euthanasia services available
• Grief counseling resources available
• Memorial items and urns available

DAYCARE
See AJ’s K9 Kamp under Boarding
THE BED & BISCUIT ON SUNNYSIDE
Daycare and overnight stays in my home for
dogs over 30# Special needs, meds OK! Lisa
503-658-5737

HEALTH & WELLNESS

“WE HAVE A WARM HEART
FOR A COLD NOSE”

RESCUE

HELP WANTED
AD SALES
Spot Magazine is growing! Wanted: Detail-oriented,
disciplined, confident, friendly, animal lover to work
flexible hours from home office. Experience not
required, but high comfort in and appetite for sales
a must. Send letter & resume to publisher@spot
magazine.net. No calls please.

13 friday
• Pet Aid Concert at McMenamins
Edgeﬁeld. The lineup includes Spoon,
Presidents of the United States, and Nada
Surf. A portion ticket sales supports OHS
& DoveLewis. Details oregonhumane.org.
10am — Zoo Father of the Year. One of
the zoo’s dads will be named Zoo Father
of the Year and receive a special treat.
Great photo opp. Details Oregonzoo.org.
11am — Greenhill Adoption Outreach
at West Coast Bank in Eugene. Details
green-hill.org.

25 wednesday
7:50am — Tune in to K103 Radio to meet
the MCAS Pet of the Week.
6pm — Yappy Hour at Urban Wineworks
in NW Portland. OHS presents the
winners of its Fuzzy, Furry and Feathered
Friends photo contest. Purchase a toy
from LexiDog to give shelter dogs fun
while awaiting their forever homes. A
portion of all Bishop Creek Cellars sales
beneﬁt OHS. Admission is free.

ALL MONTH
• AUSSIE PET MOBILE is new in town,
providing a full ‘spa’ experience to
your pet at your front door in their
Mercedes Sprinter Van. For an
Aussie Pet Mobile in your area, call
800.PETMOBILE (738.6624) or visit
www.aussiepetmobile.com.
• SUMMER CONCERTS at the Oregon Zoo.
For dates, performers and ticket info, visit
oregonzoo.org.

MORE
ALL MONTH LONg
at SPOTMAGAZINE.NET

KPSU Fathers & Families Show 1450 AM Thursdays at 6:00
* Coming

up on Fathers & Families
with your host Jim Whinston

June 5, 2008: The Center For Family Success on
helping parents who are in or released from prison.
June 12, 2008: Mel Feit and Gus Sleiman celebrate
Father’s Day in a gender-neutral manner.
June 19, 2008: Trent Lute, executive director of the
Democratic Party in Oregon.
June 26, 2008: Sonja Harju with a monthly update on
political and social issues.
*Subject to change.